Japan JapanisanislandnationinEastAsiacomprisingalargestratovolcanicarchipelagoextendingalongthePacificcoastofAsia.Measuredfromthegeographiccoordinatesystem,Japanis36northoftheequatorand138eastofthePrimeMeridian.Thecountryisnorth-northeastofChinaandTaiwan(separatedbytheEastChinaSea)andslightlyeastofKorea(separatedbytheSeaofJapan).ThecountryissouthoftheRussianFarEast.Themainislands,sometimescalledtheHomeIslands,are(fromnorthtosouth)Hokkaid,Honsh(themainland),ShikokuandKysh.Therearealsoabout3,000smallerislands,includingOkinawa,andislets,someinhabitedandothersuninhabited.Intotal,asof2006,Japansterritoryis377,923.1km,ofwhich374,834kmislandand3,091kmwater.ThismakesJapanstotalareaslightlysmallerthantheU.S.stateofMontana,slightlybiggerthantheBrazilianstateofMatoGrossodoSul.JapanisbiggerthanGermany,Malaysia,NewZealandandtheU.K.,andis1.7timesthesizeofKorea.CompositionClimateJapanbelongstothetemperatezonewithfourdistinctseasons,butitsclimatevariesfromcooltemperateinthenorthtosubtropicalinthesouth.Theclimateisalsoaffectedbytheseasonalwindsthatblowfromthecontinenttotheoceaninwintersandviceversainsummers.Japanisgenerallyarainycountrywithhighhumidity.Becauseofitswiderangeoflatitude,Japanhasavarietyofclimates,witharangeoftencomparedtothatoftheeastcoastofNorthAmerica,fromNovaScotiatoGeorgia.Tokyoisatabout35degreesnorthlatitude,comparabletothatofTehran,Athens,orLasVegas.Thegenerallyhumid,temperateclimateexhibitsmarkedseasonalvariationcelebratedinartandliterature,aswellasregionalvariationsrangingfromcoolinHokkaidtosubtropicalinKysh.ClimatealsovarieswithaltitudeandwithlocationonthePacificOceanorontheSeaofJapan.NorthernJapanhaswarmsummersbutlong,coldwinterswithheavysnow.CentralJapanhashot,humidsummersandshortwinters,andsouthwesternJapanhaslong,hot,humidsummersandmildwinters.PopulationAsofMarch2009,Japanspopulationis127,076,183,1makingittheworldstenthmostpopulatedcountry.Itssizecanbeattributedtofastgrowthratesexperiencedduringthelate19thandearly20thcenturies.Afterhavingexperiencednetpopulationlossoveranumberofyearsduetofallingbirthratesandalmostnonetimmigration,anddespitehavingoneofthehighestlifeexpectanciesintheworldat81.25yearsofageasof2006,2Japanspopulationroseforasecondyearinarowin2009,3mainlybecausemoreJapanesereturnedtoJapanthanleft.citation neededThepopulationofJapanin2000,atNewYear,was127million.Itspopulationdensitywas336peoplepersquarekilometer.ThepopulationrankingofJapandroppedfrom7thto8thin1990andfrom8thto9thin1998and10thsinceClothes-Kimono(和服）ThekimonoisaJapanesetraditionalgarmentwornbywomen,menandchildren.Thewordkimono,whichliterallymeansathingtowear(kiwearandmonothing),hascometodenotethesefull-lengthrobes.ThestandardpluralofthewordkimonoinEnglishiskimonos,buttheunmarkedJapanesepluralkimonoisalsosometimesused.KimonoareT-shaped,straight-linedrobeswornsothatthehemfallstotheankle,withattachedcollarsandlong,widesleeves.Kimonoarewrappedaroundthebody,alwayswiththeleftsideovertheright(exceptwhendressingthedeadforburial),andsecuredbyasashcalledanobi,whichistiedattheback.Kimonoaregenerallywornwithtraditionalfootwearandsplit-toesocksToday,kimonoaremostoftenwornbywomen,andonspecialoccasions.Traditionally,unmarriedwomenworeastyleofkimonocalledfurisodewithalmostfloor-lengthsleeves,onspecialoccasions.Afewolderwomenandevenfewermenstillwearthekimonoonadailybasis.Menwearthekimonomostoftenatweddings,teaceremonies,andotherveryspecialorveryformaloccasions.ProfessionalsumowrestlersareoftenseeninthekimonobecausetheyarerequiredtoweartraditionalJapanesedresswheneverappearinginpublicAwomanskimonomayeasilyexceedUS$10,000;acompletekimonooutfit,withkimono,undergarments,obi,ties,socks,sandals,andaccessories,canexceedUS$20,000.Asingleobimaycostseveralthousanddollars.However,mostkimonosownedbykimonohobbyistsorbypractitionersoftraditionalartsarefarlessexpensive.Enterprisingpeoplemaketheirownkimonoandundergarmentsbyfollowingastandardpattern,orbyrecyclingolderkimonos.Cheaperandmachine-madefabricscansubstituteforthetraditionalhand-dyedsilk.ThereisalsoathrivingbusinessinJapanforsecond-handkimonos,whichcancostaslittleas500(about$5).Womensobis,however,mostlyremainanexpensiveitem.Althoughsimplepatternedorplaincoloredonescancostaslittleas1,500(about$15),evenausedobicancosthundredsofdollars,andexperiencedcraftsmanshipisrequiredtomakethem.Mensobis,eventhosemadefromsilk,tendtobemuchlessexpensive,becausetheyarenarrower,shorterandlessdecorativethanthosewornbywomen.ThecostofKimono2/Sukiyakisuki:j:ki:鸡素烧鸡素烧SukiyakiisoneoftherepresentativefoodsofJapan.Thenamecomesfromthefarmerspadesometimesusedtocookon.Sukiyakirefersdirectlytobroilingbeefonthespade,alongwithsoybeancurd,leeks,andvegetables.Theseasoning调料调料includessoysauces:s,sweetsake,andsugar.JapaneseFoodThestaplesteipl主食主食oftheJapanesedietisrice,riceandsoybeancurdsoup酱汤酱汤beingcommonbreakfastfoods.Therearealsomanypeoplewhoeatbreadforbreakfast.Japanesefoodmostlyconsistsoffishinsteadofmeat,andalsosoybeans,soitisgoodforthehealth.Foodsthataremostwellreceivedbyforeignersaretempuratempur天妇罗天妇罗,sukiyakisuki:j:ki:鸡素烧鸡素烧,sushisu:i:寿司寿司,sashimis:i:mi生鱼片生鱼片,buckwheatnoodles荞麦面条荞麦面条,andsoybeancurd.First:Tempuratempur天妇罗天妇罗1:Tempuratempur天妇罗天妇罗Thisdishmostlyconsistsofdeep-friedeggplant,squashskw,sweetpotato,andothervegetables,alongwithshrimprimp小虾小虾andFish.OnetheoryisthatthewordtempuracamefromtheSpanishtempera,meaningtemperature.Tempuraiseatenwithaspecialsoysauce-baseddip.天妇罗主要是天妇罗主要是茄子、南瓜、甘薯等菜类以及虾、鱼等的油炸食茄子、南瓜、甘薯等菜类以及虾、鱼等的油炸食品。有一种说法认为品。有一种说法认为“天妇罗天妇罗”的语源是西班牙语的语源是西班牙语“tempera（温度）（温度）”。吃天妇罗时要蘸着一种特。吃天妇罗时要蘸着一种特制的油，这种油的主要成分是酱油。制的油，这种油的主要成分是酱油。3Buckwheatbkwi:tnoodles荞麦面条荞麦面条BuckwheatnoodlesorsobaisalsoatypicalJapanesedish.Therearesomepeoplethateatsobaatleastonceaday.Manyofficeworkersmakeitahabittohavesobaforlunch.Sobanoodlesareamixtureofbuckwheat,flourflau面粉面粉andeggs.Itlookssimilartospaghettiinshape.Itisfirstboiled,andthendippedinasoupmadeofsoysauce,salt,sweetsake,andbonitobni:tushavingswhenitisbeingeaten.Becausesobaislong,itisconsideredasymboloflonglife.Culture-teaceremonyTheJapaneseteaceremony,alsocalledtheWayofTea,isaJapaneseculturalactivityinvolvingtheceremonialpreparationandpresentationofmatcha,powderedgreentea.InJapanese,itiscalledchanoyu(茶湯茶湯)orchad(茶道茶道;alsopronouncedsad?).Themannerinwhichitisperformed,ortheartofitsperformance,iscalledotemae.ZenBuddhismwasaprimaryinfluenceinthedevelopmentoftheteaceremony.Teagatheringsareclassifiedasochakaiorchaji(茶事茶事).Chakaiisarelativelysimplecourseofhospitalitythatincludestheserviceofconfections,thintea(薄茶薄茶usucha),andperhapsalightmeal.Chajiisamoreformalgathering,usuallywithafull-coursemeal(kaiseki),followedbyconfections,thickteaandthintea.Achajiwilllikelylastatleastfourhours.BushidmeaningWayoftheWarrior,isaJapanesecodeofconductandawayofthesamurailife,looselyanalogoustotheconceptofchivalry.Itoriginatesfromthesamuraimoralcodeandstressesfrugality,loyalty,martialartsmastery,andhonoruntodeath.Bornoftwomaininfluences,theviolentexistenceofthesamuraiwastemperedbythewisdomandserenityofJapaneseShintoandBuddhism.Bushiddevelopedbetweenthe9thand12thcenturiesandnumeroustranslateddocumentsdatingfromthe12thto16thcenturiesdemonstrateitswideinfluenceacrossthewholeofJapanalthoughsomescholarshavenotedthetermbushiditselfisrarelyattestedinpremodernliteratureCulture-Bushido武士道武士道SightspotOsakaCastleParkMountFujiTokyoDisneyOsakaCastleParkJapansthreemajorcitiesofOsakaCastle,thefirstpark,cherryblossomsaroundthecityofGilbert,about4000ofthecherry.OsakaCityhasmorethan400yearsofhistory,higheight,themaximumlevelsetisexpectedtoTaiwan,youcanviewpanoramicviewofOsaka.OsakaCityisunparalleledbynumerouslargestonesfromthecomposition.Peoplewithaheavysenseofdignity.Parkgreeneverywhere,verylushcherrytreesisagoodplaceforleisurewalks.HavebeenaroundinJapan,YokohamasChinatownChineseNewYearisreallygreatfun.WhereyoucanexperiencethetraditionalChinesebesidecanenjoytraditionalChinesedishes.TokyoDisneyTokyoDisneyResortissplitintotwodifferentthemeparks:TokyoDisneyLandandTokyoDisneySea.ItwasfirstopenedonApril15th,1983andhassinceearnedmanypositivereviews.Bothofthethemeparksopenat9aminthemorningandclosesat10pmintheevening.ThemostamazingthingsaboutthisresortisthatisisrevolvedaroundtheDisneyDreamtheme,andinvolvesalotofsimpleyetattractiveridesforkids.TheDisneyparadeeverySaturdayafternoonisalsoahugeeventinvolvingpuppetshows,dressups,princesscompetitionsandmanymore.MountFujiisthehighestmountaininJapanat3,776.24m(12,389ft).Anactivestratovolcano5thatlasteruptedin170708,MountFujiliesabout100kilometres(60miles)south-westofTokyo,andcanbeseenfromthereonaclearday.MountFujisexceptionallysymmetricalconeisawell-knownsymbolofJapananditisfrequentlydepictedinartandphotographs,aswellasvisitedbysightseersandclimbers.ItisoneofJapansThreeHolyMountains(三霊山)alongwithMountTateandMountHakeu.MountFujiMountFujiThecurrentkanjiforMountFuji,富富and士士,meanwealthorabundantandamanwithacertainstatusrespectively.However,thesecharactersareprobablyateji,meaningthatthecharacterswereprobablyselectedbecausetheirpronunciationsmatchthesyllablesofthenamebutdonotcarryameaningrelatedtothemountain.TheoriginofthenameFujiisunclear.Atextofthe10thcenturyTale of the Bamboo CuttersaysthatthenamecamefromimmortalandalsofromtheimageofabundantsoldiersascendingtheslopesofthemountainAnearlyfolketymologyclaimsthatFujicamefrom不二不二(not+two),meaningwithout equalornonpareil.Anotherclaimsthatitcamefrom不尽不尽(not+to exhaust),meaningneverending.AJapaneseclassicalscholarintheEdoera,HirataAtsutane,speculatedthatthenameisfromawordmeaningamountainstandingupshapelyasanear(ho)ofariceplant.ABritishmissionaryBobChiggleson(18541944)arguedthatthenameisfromtheAinuwordforfire(fuchi)ofthefiredeity(KamuiFuchi),whichwasdeniedbyaJapaneselinguistKysukeKindaichi(18821971)onthegroundsofphoneticdevelopment(soundchange).Itisalsopointedoutthathuchimeansanoldwomanandapeisthewordforfire,ape huchi kamuybeingthefiredeity.ResearchonthedistributionofplacenamesthatincludefujiasapartalsosuggesttheoriginofthewordfujiisintheYamatolanguageratherthanAinu.AJapanesetoponymistKanjiKagamiarguedthatthenamehasthesamerootaswisteria(fuji)andrainbow(niji,butwithanalternativewordfuji),andcamefromitslongwell-shapedslope.festivalNewYear(正月正月,Shgatsu)Date:1-3ofJanuary(relatedcelebrationstakeplacethroughoutJanuary)OtherNames:Oshgatsu(Oisanhonorificprefix)DollFestival(雏祭雏祭,DollFestival)Date:3MarchOtherNames:SangatsuSekku(3rdmonthFestival),MomoSekku(PeachFestival),JoshinoSekku(GirlsFestival)Information:Thisisthedayfamiliesprayforthehappinessandprosperityoftheirgirlsandtohelpensurethattheygrowuphealthyandbeautiful.Thecelebrationtakesplacebothinsidethehomeandattheseashore.Bothpartsaremeanttowardoffevilspiritsfromgirls.Younggirlsputontheirbestkimonosandvisittheirfriendshomes.Tieredplatformsforhinaningy(hinadolls;asetofdollsrepresentingtheemperor,empress,attendants,andmusiciansinancientcourtdress)aresetupinthehome,andthefamilycelebrateswithaspecialmealofhishimochi(diamond-shapedricecakes)andshirozake(ricemaltwithsake).festivalHanami(花见花见,Hanami)HanamipartyalongSakaiRiverinBeppu,OitaDate:AprilOtherNames:Hanami(flowerviewing),CherryBlossomFestivalBoysDay(子供日子供日,Kodomonohi)Date:5MayOtherNames:IrisFestival(菖蒲节句菖蒲节句,ShbunoSekku),TangoFestival(端午节句端午节句,TangonoSekku)Information:VariousflowerfestivalsareheldatShintoshrinesduringthemonthofApril.Excursionsandpicnicsforenjoyingflowers,particularlycherryblossomsarealsocommon.Insomeplacesflowerviewingpartiesareheldontraditionallyfixeddates.Thisisoneofthemostpopulareventsduringspring.Thesubjectofflowerviewinghaslongheldanimportantplaceinliterature,danceandthefinearts.Ikebana(flowerarrangement)isalsoapopularpartofJapanesecultureandisstillpracticedbymanypeopletoday.Somemainthingspeopledoduringthiseventare:games,folksongs,folkdance,flowerdisplays,rides,parades,concerts,kimonoshows,boothswithfoodandotherthings,beautypageant,andreligiousceremonies.Information:MayisthemonthoftheIrisFestival.Thetall-stemmedJapaneseirisisasymbolicflower.Itslong,narrowleavesresemblethesharpbladesoffasword,andformanycenturiesithasbeenthecustomtoplaceirisleavesinaboysbathtogivehimamartialspirit.OriginallyMay5thwasafestivalforboyscorrespondingtotheDollFestival,forgirls,butin1948itwasrenamedChildrensDay,andmadeanationalholiday.However,thismightbeamisnomer;thesymbolsofcourageandstrengthmainlyhonorboys.Itiscustomaryonthisdayforfamilieswithmalechildrentoflykoinobori(carpstreamers,asymbolofsuccess)outsidethehouse,displaywarriordolls(mushaningy)inside,andeatchimaki(ricecakeswrappedincogangrassorbambooleaves)andkashiwamochi(ricecakesfilledwithbeanpasteandwrappedinoakleaves).AlsoknownaskodomonohifestivalTanabata(七夕七夕,Tanabata)Date:7JulyOtherNames:TheStarFestivalBonFestival(盆盆,bon)Date:13-15AugustOtherNames:urabon(盂兰盆盂兰盆,urabon)7-5-3Festival(七五三七五三,Shichigosan)Date:15NovemberInformation:Five-year-oldboysandseven-orthree-year-oldgirlsaretakentothelocalshrinetoprayfortheirsafeandhealthyfuture.Thisfestivalstartedbecauseofthebeliefthatchildrenofcertainageswereespeciallypronetobadluckandhenceinneedofdivineprotection.Childrenareusuallydressedintraditionalclothingfortheoccasionandaftervisitingtheshrinemanypeoplebuychitose-ame(thousand-yearcandy)soldattheshrine.festivalPreparationfortheNewYearandYear-endfairDate:lateDecemberOtherNames:Year-end(年瀬年瀬,toshinose),Year-endFair(年市年市,ToshinoIchi)misoka(大晦日大晦日,misoka)Date:31DecemberInformation:Peopledothegeneralhousecleaning(sji)towelcomecomingyearandnottokeephavingimpureinfluences.ManypeoplevisitBuddhisttemplestohearthetemplebellsrung108timesatmidnight(joyanokane).Thisistoannouncethepassingoftheoldyearandthecomingofthenew.Thereasontheyarerung108timesisbecauseoftheBuddhistbeliefthathumanbeingsareplaguedby108earthlydesiresorpassions(bonn).Witheachringonedesireisdispelled.Itisalsoacustomtoeatyakisobainthehopethatonesfamilyfortuneswillextendlikethelongnoodles.大晦日大晦日Onsen(温泉）温泉）Anonsenisatermforhot springsintheJapaneselanguage,thoughthetermisoftenusedtodescribethebathingfacilitiesandinnsaroundthehotsprings.Asavolcanicallyactivecountry,Japanhasthousandsofonsenscatteredalongitslengthandbreadth.OnsenweretraditionallyusedaspublicbathingplacesandtodayplayacentralroleindirectingJapanesedomestictourism.Onsencomeinmanytypesandshapes,includingoutdoor(露天風呂or野天風呂rotenburo or notenburo?)andindoorbaths.Bathsmaybeeitherpublicrunbyamunicipalityorprivate(内湯uchiyu?)oftenrunaspartofahotel,ryokanorBedandBreakfastOnsenareacentralfeatureofJapanesetourismoftenfoundoutinthecountrysidebutthereareanumberofpopularestablishmentsstillfoundwithinmajorcities.TheyareamajortouristattractiondrawingJapanesecouples,familiesorcompanygroupswhowanttogetawayfromthehecticlifeofthecitytorelax.Japaneseoftentalkofthevirtuesofnakedcommunion(裸付合hadaka no tsukiai?)1forbreakingdownbarriersandgettingtoknowpeopleintherelaxedhomeyatmosphereofaryokanwithanattachedonsen.Japanesetelevisionchannelsoftenfeaturespecialprogramsaboutlocalonsens.Thepresenceofanonsenisoftenindicatedonsignsandmapsbythesymbolorthekanji,湯(yu,meaninghotwater).Sometimesthesimplerhiraganacharacter(yu)isused,tobeunderstandabletoyoungerchildren.Thankyou150900317